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UK introduces new libel law to end abuses

donal brown March 15, 2011

The United Kingdom has proposed a new libel law, virtually eliminating juries, sharply curtailing libel tourism, bolstering freedom of speech and protecting the press engaging in investigative reporting. The Minister of State for Justice Lord McNally said, “We have been trying to get the balance right between proper protections and the oft-used accusation that the law as it operates now creates a chilling effect on free speech and on information right across the board, from

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FOIA: Federal appeals court denies acess to mugshots

donal brown March 15, 2011

In a departure from a ruling of another circuit, the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that a mug shot was exempt from the Freedom of Information Act. The court said to release the mug shots would violate the person’s privacy rights. Writing for The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Christine Beckett says, “The issue of access to mug shots made news last month when requests were made to see the mug

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For these seven, open government is a way of life

FAC March 14, 2011

In recognition of Sunshine Week, the Sacramento Bee’s Marjie Lundstrom has identified seven Californians who doggedly fight for open government. Heroes or kooks, she says, they share a common quality: They don’t take no for an answer in their persistent efforts to pry open government for all to see. Their drive for accountability has prompted new law and landed some of them in legal trouble. Never deterred, they keep pressing, in several cases fighting for

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Japanese disaster shows limits of citizen journalism

donal brown March 14, 2011

In viewing video of the aftermath of the Japanese earthquake, MediaPost’s Erik Sass says the most valuable footage came from professional news organizations. The pros were able to use traffic helicopters to focus on the most important developments such as the advancing tsunami and fires while amateurs tended to try to film too much and ended up with little of import. -db From a commentary in MediaPost, Friday, March 11, 2011, by Erik Sass. Full

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Sunshine Week: EFF says in the era of WikiLeaks still need whistleblowers and FOIA

donal brown March 14, 2011

A staff attorney for the Electronic Frontier Foundation says that WiliLeaks dramatic release of classified government documents aside, it still crucial to government accountability for people working within government to come forth with stories of excesses and for citizens to exercise their rights under freedom of information laws. EFF’s Jennifer Lynch lists some recent cases favorable to open government and offers help and advice for those wanting information on government dealings. -db From a commentary

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